The Bell Capital Cup

The Bell Capital Cup is held annually in Ottawa between Christmas and New Years and is the biggest hockey tournament in the world. This year there were 486 teams in total in the Atom and Peewee divisions. Our River Rat team competed in the Minor Atom Competitive A division. There were 22 teams in our division. The Rats battled hard all tournament and were one of the two teams to advance to the Championship game. We lost 4-0 in the final but were very proud of our team for making it to the final game.

This is a picture of Alexander in the opening face-off of the Bell Capital Cup All-Star game. He is in red on left wing.


As our team was getting ready for the final championship game we had a special visitor. Mike Fisher stopped in and wished the team good luck and encouraged them to play hard. I have never seen Paula smile this much with Lou!! Cathy has a pretty good smile in the background as well.

The River Rat players that played in the all-star game: Alexander, Cameron, Sam and Mark.

Alexander and Duane with the Banner and trophies we received for making it to the final of the Bell Capital Cup.

Hockey Fever!!

The 2009 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships were held this year in Ottawa. It was awesome hockey. This is a pic of Cathy, Duane and Alexander in front of an ice sculpture at Scotiabank Place. This was New Years eve and Canada was about to take on team USA. Canada went down 3-0 but came back and won the game.

Duane, Cathy, and Alexander in the first intermission.

Our family supporting team Canada!

Christmas in Ottawa

Christmas time - Cathy opening a gift from Alexander.


Christmas morning - Hanna Rose with the things Santa Claus brought her. A karaoke machine, a dance game, Bratz, etc.

Alexander on Christmas morning - his new electric guitar, some lego, etc.

Calli with her new Baby Alive!

Sudbury Silver Stick: we came within a breakaway of going to the final in the silver stick tournament. Up 2-0 with 7 minutes to go in the third it was not to be. The team tied it up and the game went to sudden death overtime. No winner. Shoot-out time. After 11 shooters each we lost. Nonetheless, we had a tremendous weekend and Alexander had a great weekend as he lead our team in points in the tournament.

Alexander reading the play while on the move.
Alexander, Michael and Owen celebrating after Alexander scored a goal.

Check out the size of this centreman Alexander is lined up against. I joked with uncle David saying that he should grab this 9 year old kid and put him in the Raise.

Alexander beating the giant on a draw.

The River Rats visiting the big Nickel. Our trainer's arms were getting sore holding up the Nickel. (Wayne Beaton)

Sudbury Silver Stick

Sudbury in December
Our River Rat team chartered a bus and made the trek up highway 17 to Sudbury, or, as it was known that weekend "Sudberia". The mercury dropped to minus 30 that weekend and our bus wouldn't start one morning. Here is a pic of Grandma Rosie and Alexander after one of our games in the Silver Stick.


Duane and Alexander took some time during our busy weekend to go out to the barn and visit with Grandpa Sandy and Kevin Gillis. Here is a picture of Mitch's Ceilidh getting his exercise in the snow.

The Godfather pic - Kevin and Alexander. In the background you will see the new jog cart that Kevin bought and brought up to Sudbury that weekend.

Kevin and Sandy getting the horse ready to jog.